Israel Ambassador Presents Credentials at Buckingham Palace

October 22, 1952

LONDON (Oct. 21)

Israel envoy Eliahu Elath today presented his new credentials as first Ambassador of Israel to the Court of St. James to Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. His opposite number has already presented his new credentials in Tel Aviv.

Ambassador Elath was accompanied by eight senior members of his staff. The party, accompanied by members of the British diplomatic corps, rode through London in ceremonial coaches reserved for high state occasions. They were escorted by units of the Metropolitan police and the route to the palace was patrolled by policemen who gave the diplomatic party the right of way over all traffic.

Just prior to setting out on his historic journey to the palace of Britain’s monarchs, Ambassador Elath said: “This is certainly a great day not only for us who participate in this memorable and important ceremony, but, I believe, also for Israel and the Jewish community of this nation who are seeing to some extent the completion of the long road which started November 2, 1917 (the day on which the Balfour Declaration was issued) and has led to today.”

Reviewing relations between Israel and Britain since the Balfour Declaration; the Ambassador said that these relations had seen their “ups and downs” but had now entered a period of friendship and mutual respect and cooperation.